Too busy to find time for workouts? Fret not. All you need is just three minutes of exercise every week — it will help you shed the flab, says a new study.

British researchers claim that the secret to staying slim is short bursts of intense exercise — known as high-intensity interval training; and, such a session once a week is far more effective at burning fat than slogging away for hours in gym.

According to them, high-intensity interval training (HIT) triggers the release of fat-burning hormones helping to shift those unwanted love handles. It also moves glucose from blood into muscle-tissue where it’s burnt as energy.

And vigorous bursts of physical activity also have the effect of killing your appetite, whereas longer workouts can leave you wanting to eat more, the ‘Daily Express’ reported.

This means people keen to lose weight would be less likely to be tempted to snack on unhealthy treats if they ditched the gym and went for a short brisk walk, according to the researchers from Birmingham and Nottingham universities.

Professor James Timmons, who is leading the team, said: “HIT is really good at improving glucose uptake into the muscles in a very, very short time. With really intense exercise, you release hormones that can help break down fat. This may help burn that fat over time, after HIT is done.

“Also, we think, but don’t know, that HIT will subdue appetite, while traditional exercise will stimulate appetite. This last point is key and will be researched by our team.”

Experts have welcomed the findings.

Martin Gibala, from McMaster University in Ontario, said: “A growing body of evidence demonstrates that HIT can serve as an effective alternate to traditional endurance- based training. Such findings are important given that ‘lack of time’ remains the most commonly cited barrier to regular exercise.”